Nigeria Police arraign suspects over Kano â€˜blasphemyâ€™ killing

Five persons have been arraigned before a Kano High Court in connection with last weekâ€™s killing of a trader, Madam Bridget Agbahime in popular Kofar Wambai market on allegation of blasphemy.

The police arraigned the accusedÂ on Friday.

Those arraigned were Dauda Ahmad, Abdullahi Mustapha, Zubairu Abubakar, Abdullahi Abubakar and Musa Abdullahi before Chief Magistrate Court on a four-count charge of incitement, culpable homicide and mischief, based on sections 144, 80, 51 and 327 of the penal code.

Prime suspect, Dauda Ahmad was accused of leading others to attack and hack Mrs. Agbahime to death.

If found guilty, Mr. Ahmad could face the death penalty.

Prosecutor, Dauda Jibrin, said on June 2, at aboutÂ 4pmÂ Ahmad, the prime suspect, went and held the hands of Mrs. Agbahime and slapped her severally on the face before shouting Allahu Akbar with the intent to caused religious upheaval.

He said as Ahmad shouted Allahu Akbar, Abdullahi Mustapha, Zubairu Abubakar joined him, while others at large, including Salawiyu, Ibrahim, Dini, Isiyaku Mada, Mallam Sani and Yunusa Sufi, also accompanied them to the victimâ€™s shop located on the first floor, where they beat her with sticks causing serious injuries that led to her death.

Two of the suspects pleaded not guilty to the four charges, while Abdullahi Mustapha and Zubairu Abubakar said they were not even at the scene of the incident.